benevolent

Adjective

Synonyms: charitable kindly sympathetic good-hearted openhearted large-hearted freehearted beneficent eleemosynary philanthropic

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (4)

intending or showing kindness“a benevolent society”
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity“was charitable in his opinions of others”“kindly criticism”“a kindly act”“sympathetic words”“a large-hearted mentor”Synonyms: charitable kindly sympathetic good-hearted openhearted large-hearted
generous in providing aid to othersSynonyms: freehearted
generous in assistance to the poor“a benevolent contributor”“eleemosynary relief”“philanthropic contributions”Synonyms: beneficent eleemosynary philanthropic

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Benevolent \Be*nev"o*lent\, a. [L. benevolens, -entis; bene well (adv. of bonus good) + volens, p. pr. of volo I will, I wish. See Bounty, and Voluntary.] Having a disposition to do good; possessing or manifesting love to mankind, and a desire to promote their prosperity and happiness; disposed to give to good objects; kind; charitable. -- Be*nev"o*lent*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Benevolent, Beneficent.

Usage: Etymologically considered, benevolent implies wishing well to others, and beneficent, doing well. But by degrees the word benevolent has been widened to include not only feelings, but actions; thus, we speak of benevolent operations, benevolent labors for the public good, benevolent societies. In like manner, beneficent is now often applied to feelings; thus, we speak of the beneficent intentions of a donor. This extension of the terms enables us to mark nicer shades of meaning. Thus, the phrase "benevolent labors" turns attention to the source of these labors, viz., benevolent feeling; while beneficent would simply mark them as productive of good. So, "beneficent intentions" point to the feelings of the donor as bent upon some specific good act; while "benevolent intentions" would only denote a general wish and design to do good. [1913 Webster]